Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-20
THE BACKMAN'S STORY.
ED. SEORT'S EXPERIENCE WITH
A DRUNKEN DETECTIVE.
What Desperate Chances a Jehu
Sometimes Takes in Order to
Turn an Honest Penny.

| usual stands near the Golden Eagle and
Capital Hotels, while a few loungers occu-
pied the chairs outside, listlessly waiting,
Macawber like for. something to turn up,
| and commenting on the tout ensemble of
those who had energy enough 10 be walk
| ing the street.
1.-The dog-days are here again. said Ed.
Short, as he pulled his chair up to where
the writer was sitting. There is some
thing peculiar about the intluenceswhich
this season has upon mankind. 1t Knocks
all the stiffening out of people, and puts a
dead shackle on business of every kind"
1t was evident that Ed. was beginning to
warm up, and all that was necessary was
to give him patient hearing.
This sort of business drought in a
kind of moral cyclone for you hackmen,"
chimed in the writer, eager to see what
turn would be taken by the voluble Ed
90, bless my soul; hickman some
times strikes pay dust when there is not
color in sight. | remember an incident which
occurred lust one wear ago. Yes, it was
just before the State Fair. 1t was warm
afternoon, no breeze, no business, nobody
ON the streets, not bean in sight for
hackman with several orphans and wife
on his hands to support but it is strange
how the Lord will provide" He contin-
ued 1.-The door of the Golden Eagle
swung open and a TALL well-built stranger
half staggered out on the sidewalk. He
was not drunk, but in that transitive state
which precludes any reasonable man from
saying he was sober, and yet not in that
| inaudlin condition that would mark him
as devoid of pretty good business sense
He evidently knew what he wanted, for he
asked me if | knew where Clarksburg was
OF course did, and told him it was several
miles down the Sacramento river on the
Yolo side, and incidentally mentioned
GAINESVILLE. in Ell Dorado county. That
he said, is where l want to go, GAINESVILLE
:" 1t was but the work of few minutes to
decide and arrange details. My best team
and lightest carriage was brought out, and
announced myself ready for the trip.
Again the Golden Eagle door opened, and
the stranger, with large valise, was handed
into the carriage, where he reclined in a
sort of stupor. We ratified along over the
dusty road, while l began to wonder if it
could be possible that | vas being duped
by some drunken vagabond, and it occurred
to me that he was very peculiar in his acts.
| felt all was not just right, and almost
wished l had demanded pay in advance.
Something caused me to look around, and
you may imagine my surprise when tell
you that l saw him lean over, open his va
lise, and take out one of the most villain
ous-looking dragon pistols that ever saw.
He laid it on the seat by him, and then
coolly picked out pair of handouts. /
was beginning to think my time had come,
and that was alone with mailman. He
next took out roll of printed circulars,
and finally drew forth flask of liquor and
with evident relish drew long and silent
draught therefrom. 1t is needless to say l
watched him, but did so slyly. He babe
me stop, and handing me one of the circu-
lars, stated briefly that he had something
to tell me, and he expected my
cooperation, You think 1 am drunk. 1
am detective. Nobody knows me here,
and am on mission which will prob
ably cost one or two lives and he smiled
as if he didn't care a copper if the destruc-
ton. of life began at once. And l must
confess that thought could SET blood in
his eye and insanity in every lineament of
his broad countenance. Without noticing
my concern over the strange proceedings.
he proceeded to tell me that he was Dave
Woods. detective from Oregon, and that
he was after desperate who had killed
his partner over year ago. He proceeded
to describe the murderer SO INFINITELY that
the very image of the man he was seeking
| was before me. l know that could recog-
nize the murderer on sight. must insist
on your help said Wood, and he spoke
as if he meant it, because Sam is not the
| man who will not die game. Ipromised
| to assist, but must confess that / thought
| the whole proceedings q little mixed, and
| felt as if would just as soon not meet the
| desperate Sam he was looking for. l was
not in the detective business. We
| were but five miles from GAINESVILLE,
when / recognized Sam on a wood
L
confident 1t was he, and spoke
| to Woods, telling him his man was coming
and to get ready. / felt for my own pistol.
He reused up, rubbed his eyes, and looked
| more stupid than at any previous time.
The only remark he made was, Yes, that's
Sam. He commanded me to stop. / ex-
pected to see the old dragon pistol pulled
| out and preparations for war begun. But
no. Said Dave, Let me speak to him. He
| will come to me- l could readily see now
| that his idea was to get him in the hack by
| some sly ruse, and there was no telling
what would then take place. thought
the plan desperate one.
"In response to the call of Dave Woods.
Sam Staples got down, came to the hack.
| and heartier shaking of hands l never
| saw. Sam got in, accepted an invitation to
| ride and drove on more bewildered than
| ever. But now the whisky flask was
| brought into service. Both drank, and
drank, so that by the time GAINESVILLE was
reached both Dave and Sam were stupidity
| drunk. Dave was put to bed at the little
hotel kept by French widow, but Sam
was sufficiently sober TO be the terror of the
| village and took occasion to tell me that
Dave Woods was swindler of the worst
sort, and that he should improve the first
opportunity he had of blowing the top of
his head off, and suiting the action to the
word, he drew forth a pistol that was in
ever respect match for Dawes firearms ex-
| hibitedin the carriage.
| cat supper time Dave had so far recovered
that be could relish square meal, which
insisted on his having, as l began to
think, under the circumstances, that less
| whisky and more sober moments might do
something toward clearing up the mystery
surrounding the whole affair. ] sat be-
tween Dave and Sam at the table, but l
did not feel comfortable. Their converse
ton was of a complex nature, and good
feeling did not seem to exist. Like flash,
Sam drew lis pistol, and leyeled it for a
moment across my shoulders at Dave, who
glared fiercely, but did not move. IN an
instant l had the pistol, and forced Sam
into his seat. The meal was finished soon,
and both the strange men were drowning
their difficulties at the neighboring bar In
| an nOur lsnaQ DaVe IN ped, ana was deter
mined to keep him there. if possible, until
he sobered up. The braggadocies of Sam
Staples finally led to his arrest for assault,
and his trial took place at II o'clock at
night, in weird Courtroom, before JUS
tice Tongue. The trial resulted in YER
dict of not guilty. l retired to bed, and
after the exciting scenes of the afternoon
and evening, you may be sure that
III could not sleep. l pondered
over the mystified detective business the
threats to kill the cordial greeting of Dave
and Sam; the bad blood which seemed to
exist between them, and last, but not least,
the peculiar drunken conduct of Dave. A
gentle rap at my door brought me out, to
find Justice Tongue, full of business and
DESTROYS of having my assistance. He ex-
planned how it was possible to convict Sam
of breaking the peace and as Dave had
already furnished him twenty or two, il
was easily to be seen that he would pay
any reasonable fine to keep Sam out q
Jail. And he incidentally remarked that
the Court was needing few good fines Just